Large locking snubber

A mechanism for arresting linear motion between first and second relatively moveable objects, comprising:

• a pair of telescoping members attached, respectively, to said first and second objects;
• and
• means sensing the motion of said objects for limiting the telescoping of said pair of members when said motion reaches a predetermined threshold, said means comprising:
• an overhauling lead screw for producing rotary motion proportional to said linear motion;
• a thin walled tube driven rotationally by said overhauling lead screw;
• and
• a thick walled tube driven rotationally by said thin walled tube, said thick walled tube directly interposed between said pair of telescoping members but engaging one of said pair of telescoping members only when said motion exceeds said predetermined threshold.

A mechanism for arresting linear motion between a pair of mechanical elements above a predetermined motion threshold comprising:

• inertia responsive motion sensing means for sensing a predetermined linear motion threshold of said pair of mechanical elements, said sensing means comprising:
• means for producing rotary motion proportional to said linear motion;
• and
• an internally threaded inertia member mounted for free rotation on one of said pair of mechanical elements;
• a thin walled portion of said inertia member rotated by said rotary motion producing means, a thick walled tubular portion of said inertia member providing substantially all of the inertia of said inertia responsive motion sensing means;
• an externally threaded member mounted on the other of said pair of mechanical elements and sized to fit within said thick walled tubular portion of said inertia member, said externally threaded member having threads which, when synchronized and engaged with the threads of said inertia member, do not contact the threads of said inertia member;
• and
• means for rotating said inertia member and maintaining the threads of said externally threaded member in synchronism with the threads of said inertia member only when said motion between said pair of mechanical elements is below said motion threshold.

A shock mounting strut for controlling motion between a pair of relatively moveable mechanical elements comprising:

• a first nonoverhauling threaded member mounted in an axially fixed, rotatable position on one of said mechanical elements;
• a second nonoverhauling threaded member mounted in a fixed axial and rotational position on the other of said mechanical elements, the threads of said first and second members being engaged;
• and
• means for rotating said first member during relative movement of said elements below a predetermined motion threshold, said means being inoperable above said motion threshold, said means comprising:
• means producing rotary motion in response to relative axial motion between said pair of relatively moveable mechanical elements;
• and
• a detent mechanism connected between said means for producing rotational motion and said first nonoverhauling threaded member for rotating said first nonoverhauling threaded member.

A shock mounting strut for controlling motion between a pair of relatively moveable elements comprising:

• a first nonoverhauling threaded member mounted in an axially fixed rotatable position on one of said mechanical elements;
• a second nonoverhauling threaded member mounted in a fixed axial and rotational position on the other of said mechanical elements, the threads of said first and second members being engaged;
• and
• means for rotating said first member during relative movement of said elements below a predetermined motion threshold, said means being inoperable above said motion threshold, said rotating means comprising:
• an overhauling lead screw for producing rotary motion in response to relative axial motion of said pair of relatively moving mechanical elements;
• and
• a torsion rod mounted coaxially within said overhauling lead screw and attached to rotate said first nonoverhauling threaded member.

A shock mounting strut for controlling motion between a pair of relatively moveable mechanical elements comprising:

• a pair of telescoping members, one of which is connected to each of said relatively moveable mechanical elements;
• means for controlling the motion of said telescoping members, said means permitting relative linear motion between said telescoping members below a predetermined motion threshold but prohibiting motion between said telescoping members above said predetermined threshold;
• and
• means interconnecting said telescoping members with one of said pair of relatively moving elements, said means comprising a spring for adjusting the spring constant of said shock mounting strut when motion between said telescoping members is prohibited.